Sanford High School to induct first class of Athletic Hall of Honor: Here's how to nominate
SANFORD — An Athletic Hall of Honor is coming to Sanford High School.
Much like a Hall of Fame, Sanford’s Hall of Honor will induct former high school athletes, coaches, contributors, and teams who made a significant impact during their time.
It also plans to reconnect those individuals and families with the Sanford School Department and enhance the current student-athlete understanding and pride in the history of SHS athletics.
“I think this is a great opportunity to unite the community and bring people together,” SHS Athletic Director Zach Lemelin said. “This is something that will help people feel more connected to the athletic department and the Sanford Community in a really cool and unique way.”
Lemelin started working on the Hall of Honor last year as part of his summer project, as he described. He met with SHS Principal Amanda Doyle to “share the bones of it,” then took it to the School Committee in September to get the Hall of Honor off the ground.
“Superintendent Matt Nelson had a few thoughts on how to tweak it, and the School Committee was all on board and very receptive, which was great,” Lemelin said.
“Sanford has a rich athletic history,” Nelson said. “This is a great way to honor those individuals, coaches and teams who have contributed to its success over the years.”
How will athletes and coaches be selected for the Hall of Honor?
The Hall of Honor will be governed by a selection committee, which includes Lemelin, four SHS alums, one current coach, a faculty member, and four community members. Athletes can nominate themselves.
Five years need to have passed since graduating from SHS for individuals to be eligible. They also must have competed in at least one varsity sport and demonstrated superior performance.
Coaches, administrators and volunteers will be considered for induction as well. A coach must have served as a Varsity High School Coach in Sanford and is currently retired. Teams who have won a state or regional championship or achieved in other ways under uncommon adversity will be considered for induction.
For the first five years, the Hall of Honor will induct up to six athletes and special contributors. The application deadline is March 1.
“I’m so pleased by the efforts put forth by the Hall of Honor Committee,” Doyle said. “For so many SHS athletes, the experiences on our fields and in our gymnasiums represent the best days of our lives. Recognition of student-athletes and their supporters past, present, and future is an enduring way to keep folks connected and engaged in our community.”
Once the deadline passes, the committee will meet in April and May to decide who will be inducted. The induction ceremony will likely take place in November around Thanksgiving, according to Lemelin.“Ultimately, at the end of the day, we want to recognize as many well-deserving coaches, student-athletes, and special contributors that we can,” he said.
Nomination forms can be found at: https://www.sanford.org/o/sanford-high-school/page/sanford-hall-of-honor
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Sanford High School to induct first class of Athletic Hall of Honor
